So I lost my first resident gig as of today

[Icefrogg]

Yeah the owner sent a email out this morning letting everyone know the place was officially closed. It was a thursday night ladies night bar gig and it was pretty decent crowd. Me and the rest of the staff had no idea this was going to happen. There is two owners...the one decided to shut down and the other owner is trying to regroup and look for another partner to continue but until then they are closed.
so where to go from now..... Has this happened to any of you and if so what did you do.

[mrkleen]

It happens all the time......usually exactly this way, as most owners and managers are too slimy to be honest and tell the staff face to face.

If you think it is a long shot they will re-open and you think you have a following with your crowd, take your show to the next best spot in your area....promote it to your friends and crowd and bring the party there. If you think that you club will reopen and you like the existing owner....just email him and let him know you wont take another Thursday for a bit - as you like working with him and think you can build the night back up on reopen etc. Then if he does reopen soon - ask for a raise.

If it isnt open in a month, forget it and move on.

[Sean]

I'm with mrkleen. Do it yourself somewhere else, you can even take the bar staff with you too. You'll be your own boss if you're successful to bring the crowd.
If the club is shut for more than 2 thursdays, it'll be a struggle to get it back.

[Icefrogg]

I'm with mrkleen. Do it yourself somewhere else, you can even take the bar staff with you too. You'll be your own boss if you're successful to bring the crowd.
If the club is shut for more than 2 thursdays, it'll be a struggle to get it back.

Most bars in the area have DJ's and or bands. I got this gig because the bar put on facebook they were looking for a DJ to start up ladies night...so how do you reach out to bars to get in when they already have current entertainment...or do I just look for up and coming bars?

[DJ ATX]

Yeah the owner sent a email out this morning letting everyone know the place was officially closed. It was a thursday night ladies night bar gig and it was pretty decent crowd. Me and the rest of the staff had no idea this was going to happen. There is two owners...the one decided to shut down and the other owner is trying to regroup and look for another partner to continue but until then they are closed.
so where to go from now..... Has this happened to any of you and if so what did you do.

Yep. At least they sent an email out. I was working at a small bar when I lived in CA and when I just showed up for my night, the place was closed with just a note on the door saying, sorry we are now closed or something to that effect.

[b.ill]

It happens all the time......usually exactly this way, as most owners and managers are too slimy to be honest and tell the staff face to face.

Yes it does happen all the time. I've been employed by four clubs that closed down while I was there. There are two general ways that it happened:

Twice it was the owners' decision, and everyone had plenty of notice.

Twice it wasn't the owners' decision, and they were desperately trying to keep the doors open right up until the last day. No one - not even them - knew that the club was about to be closed down.

I'd be willing to bet that your second owner has been looking for an infusion of cash from someone for some time, and that was going on while the club was a working business. Now that the club is closed, his job is going to be much more difficult. I would not put any hopes into this club re-opening soon. It's time to move on.

[b.ill]

Most bars in the area have DJ's and or bands. I got this gig because the bar put on facebook they were looking for a DJ to start up ladies night...so how do you reach out to bars to get in when they already have current entertainment...or do I just look for up and coming bars?

Get a letter of endorsement from one or both of the owners of your club that closed down, and go talk to club managers in the afternoons (not during the night when they are working). Bar gigs are still one-on-one face-to-face. They want to see you and they are usually only interested in DJ's with proven club experience (which fortunately you have).

[recess]

Shitty, it sucks that the entertainment industry is full of slime balls. Ottawa is going through a HUGE wave of it and I hope it subsides.

[Defiance]

Shitty, it sucks that the entertainment industry is full of slime balls. Ottawa is going through a HUGE wave of it and I hope it subsides.

My day job is very professional and everyone I work has to be professional, when I got out of weddings and got into the 'bar/club' scene I was taken 100% by surprise how many 'slime balls' work in this industry, huge turn off.

[Sean]

Most bars in the area have DJ's and or bands. I got this gig because the bar put on facebook they were looking for a DJ to start up ladies night...so how do you reach out to bars to get in when they already have current entertainment...or do I just look for up and coming bars?

It really depends on your situation. How involved were you with the promotion of your own night? Are you still in touch with many of the crowd?

While Thursday nights is still a popular night to go out, not EVERY bar and club is open on Thursdays. You can find one that is not, if you are willing to take on their Thursday nights full on and promote it. That is if you think you will be able to bring enough crowd to fill the place, and are financially able to take the hit/investment for the first 3-4 thursdays. There is now a gap in your area for a Thursday nights ladies night.


Alternatively, I'd ask around from friends and family for bars that are not doing well even if they have their own bands and DJs. Spot them out and go talk to the manager. Explain the situation and tell them if they hire you, you'd do all in your power to move the crowd over.